Day in the life

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Along the same/similar lines as the Induction list, I'd be interested in hearing from folks (CRNAs and SRNAs) what a "typical" day is like for you. What is your day like? Are you in the OR all day or do you go to conferences/meetings? Shift work (ie, in at 7, leave at 5), come in a set time and leave "when you're done", call? Nights, weekends?

I'd be especially interested in hearing a variety of positions (ie, academic vs. private, OR vs L&D, etc.)

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Specializes in Nurse Practitioner/CRNA Pain Mgmt.

Since I'm just a SRNA, here's how my day typically runs:

In the OR by 5:30am to set up my room.

By 6:00 - 6:20 my room is set up (maybe sooner if easy case, longer if big case).

Pre-op my first patient for 7:30 case.

Waiting outside the OR for my CRNA and patient to arrive by 7:15ish

Start the case.

Depending on the day, I may have 3 or more cases on the schedule. Everyday is different of course.

I'm usually dismissed by 3pm. But, if the case began before 2:30pm, and is still going on past 3pm, I stay until 5pm at the latest.

Before leaving the hospital, I check the next day's schedule to see where I'm at and what case I have. If I have an in-patient, then I have to go to the unit/floor and do my preop assment.

I am in the OR setting 3 days a week, and I have 2 days where I have classes and no clinical.

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Right on the ball.

Since I'm just a SRNA, here's how my day typically runs:

In the OR by 5:30am to set up my room.

By 6:00 - 6:20 my room is set up (maybe sooner if easy case, longer if big case).

Pre-op my first patient for 7:30 case.

Waiting outside the OR for my CRNA and patient to arrive by 7:15ish

Start the case.

Depending on the day, I may have 3 or more cases on the schedule. Everyday is different of course.

I'm usually dismissed by 3pm. But, if the case began before 2:30pm, and is still going on past 3pm, I stay until 5pm at the latest.

Before leaving the hospital, I check the next day's schedule to see where I'm at and what case I have. If I have an in-patient, then I have to go to the unit/floor and do my preop assment.

I am in the OR setting 3 days a week, and I have 2 days where I have classes and no clinical.

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Very similar to vinnysca.

Get in actual operating room 5:30-5:45AM

Set up room until 6:15-6:30AM

Review management plan for day, look up any add ons 6:30-6:45

Go to morning report from 6:50-7:15 (discuss cases for day with CRNA and class)

Preop my patient 7:15-7:30

Done with cases usually at 3:30, however it varies a lot depending, sometimes stay till 5 or 6.

Anywhere from 3-6 cases per day, no down time in between except break

Find my assignment for next day, look up patient info, go see any inpatients, leave usually 1 hour after cases done.

Go home about 4:00-4:30 and read and create anethesia management plan for next day, this can take anywhere from 2.5-5 hours

Eat dinner, work out if possible, pass out exhausted around 10:30, try not to stay up later than 11pm (not beneficial getting less than 5 hours of sleep)

I have clinical three days a week and class two days a week, so on the days I'm not creating my anesthesia plan for clinical (or have a test coming up), I read for class, and do my online classes.

On the weekend I study 6-8 hours each day, catch up on cleaning, workouts, doctors appointments, call friends.

I take fridays off from any studying at all.

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setting your room up at 5:30am? Jeeze, I'm just waking up then.

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Yeah, if I didn't have morning report to attend it would be later, believe me. I wake up at five am and whatever time I get there is okay with me, some days I take way longer. I'd say most of the time I get into the OR at 545, it gives me an hour to set up, get coffee, review for morning report, etc

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-I am training at Arrowhead Regional in Ca.

-I usually arrive at the hospital around 6:15 to set up my room.

-Pre op my 1st pt at 0645

-Report from 0700 - 0730

-In the room with my 1st case at 0745

-If I am lucky, I am relieved at 1500 to go home, but I usually have at least one pre op to do on the floor

-If I am un-lucky, I am last on the off list and stay till about 1800, give or take an hour depending on the cases left on the board

-Many weeks I have a 16 hour call shift during the week and a 24 hour call shift on the weekends

-I have class 2 hours a week, and the rest is all clinical

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setting your room up at 5:30am? Jeeze, I'm just waking up then.

It really does not make sense to me either.

At my other clinical site, i could show up at 0630Am and cases without the exception of cardiac would not start until 0800AM

At my current clinical site we are required to show up at 0530AM. We get do room set up and pull our meds and clear the anesthesia workroom before the Crna's and Mda's arrive, usually about 0630AM. Our cases here usually start about 0715-0730AM.

If you are not ready then, I think it maybe be reflected on your eval. for that day. I am not sure it is pleasant.

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I'm finished in a few more months. I have clinical 4 days a week and usually one saturday a month.

Usual day shift...get up at 0530, 15 minute shower, 15 minute drive stopping at Starbucks religiously, in the hospital doors a few minutes after 0600. In the OR by 0610, if the cases are routine sit down and finish coffee until 0625. Setup room for 10-15 minutes. Pull some fentanyl and versed for the first case. Pre-op and line as needed, usually finished by 0700. Wait around for the surgeon to show. Induction right around 0730. 30 minute break for lunch. Finished by 1500. Go home and study for boards at present.

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What is involved in setting up the room? It seems (unless I'm reading it wrong) that most people are taking almost an hour. Is it that involved or is there more for SRNAs to do (as compared to CRNAs or MDAs)?

bryan

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What is involved in setting up the room? It seems (unless I'm reading it wrong) that most people are taking almost an hour. Is it that involved or is there more for SRNAs to do (as compared to CRNAs or MDAs)?

bryan

I will address the second part of your question.

It really depends on which part you are in your program. I remember initially it would take me about 30 minutes for room set up, but now I do it in about 10 minutes or less. I have done two chest cases and I did not alter my room set up significantly. I just brought more equipment into the room. I imagine there are some cases that would require considerably more time. As an SRNA it is unwise to attempt an abreviated machine check or do a case room set up. There are somethings during room set-up that I know I may not need for my first case but I still make it a point to include in my set-up. I guess I am just trying to build in a habit. Your Crna/Mda would not find it funny if you depend upon the circulator to get you somethings that they thing you could have anticipated and included in your room set-up.

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I just started in Jan. and I am in a program that is not intergrated. So my typical day starts at 6:00 have class from 8:00 until 10:00 or 1:30 depending on the day and then it is off to the library to read and study until 5:00-6:00 come home see my wife and then retire to the kitchen to study some more. My night usually ends around 11:00. I can't wait to get to the OR. I enjoy learning but I am ready for some hands on. Chemistry, Physics, Pharmacology, and physiology are a challenge to say the least.

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